Blackstones beat Burton Park Wanderers in United Counties League Division One clash
Blackstones made a triumphant return to United Counties League action as they recorded their third successive Division One victory on Saturday.
They ran out 4-2 home winners against Burton Park Wanderers in their first league outing since the end of October.
After failing behind to Jordan Middleton's opener, Harry Fitzjohn got Stones back on level terms on the stroke of half-time as their performance improved as the first period wore on.
A strong second half showing then helped the home side pocket all three points thanks to goals from top scorer Will Bird and a Herbie Panting brace.
Wanderers did claim a late consolation when marksman Bird put through his own net, but it did little to take the shine off a solid all-round display which pleased boss Mark Baines.
Baines said: "I didn't think we played badly in the first half, but we didn't play well.
"We looked like getting caught defensively a few times and were getting caught offside too many times at the other end.
"The biggest problem though was that we lost too many 50-50s and, if you do that, it always puts you on the back foot. If teams win the second ball then they break on you.
"We had to tweak it up a bit and, because they were slow at the back, I told the lads to go more 'old school' so we could turn them.
"We had to pump the ball forward for 45 minutes. We had to do that for once because sometimes passing doesn't work.
"You always want the performances to be good, but the most important thing was to get the three points.
"I thought the lads were superb in the second half. We needed that result to back up the last two wins and get some momentum going again.
"I liked the way the lads rolled up their sleeves in the second half and we really went at them."
Stones had beaten Saturday's visitors 5-0 in the reverse fixture in September, but Burton showed in the early stages that they certainly wouldn't be any push-overs.
Jordan Middleton saw a 15th minute effort ruled out for offside before the visitors took the lead shortly after.
Ben Fitzjohn harried the home defence into making a mistake before teeing up Middleton to tap in the opening goal.
The visitors then came close to doubling their lead as Ben Fitzjohn scrambled a shot against the home upright.
Louis Martin turned home a Zac Allen cross moments later only for the assistant referee's flag to again rule out another Burton effort for offside.
Stones started to impose themselves on a fiercely-fought contest as the half wore on and restored parity on the stroke of the interval.
The fit-again Robbie Ellis created space down the right before laying a pass into the path of Sam Wilson who found the incoming Harry Fitzjohn to sweep home an impressive finish into the bottom corner of the Burton net.
A goal so close to half-time is often said to change games and in this instance Stones took full advantage of having the momentum on the resumption of the second period.
Bird deflected a Dan Gargan strike goalwards only to be thwarted by a fine stop from Wanderers goalkeeper Dan Smith who then kept out a lobbed effort from Stones' top scorer.
A goal was coming though and Bird latched onto a long ball in the 51st minute before holding off a challenge and placing his shot beyond the advancing Smith.
Stones' strong start to the second period continued with Smith making a decent save to deny Ellis before again keeping out a Bird effort.
The third goal did arrive though after 67 minutes when a free-kick into the Burton box fell invitingly into the path of Panting who slotted home.
Stones were now dominate and added a fourth four minutes later with Panting again in the right place at the right time to bundle home his second goal after Burton had failed to clear their lines.
The hosts looked to further increase their tally as Burton's resolve started to fade and Ellis was thwarted again by Smith who kept out his first-time effort from Bird's low cross with Kieran Blanchard firing the rebound over.
Substitute Jake Brown then charged down a clearance from Smith only to see the ball ricochet just wide of the upright.
Burton did bag a late consolation when Bird unfortunately showed his finishing prowess at the other end by turning an inswinging cross into his own net.
But it was too little, too late for the visitors to make a comeback as Stones saw out the remaining couple of minutes to return from their Covid-enforced lay-off with another three points.
Stones' Boxing Day clash at home to Bourne Town has been postponed.
Stones: Dalton, Masnita, D Wilson (Brown 75), Panting, Peasgood, Fitzjohn, Gargan (Brown 60), S Wilson (Klinkovics 82), Bird, Ellis, Blanchard. Not used: Smith.